Can't get hookset on senko!?

[Ksam1234]

So today I went out and tried using a senko for the first time.. well it sure does get bit but I couldn't get a d**n fish in the boat.. I was using a 5 inch with a 4/0 and 5/0 ewg gamakatsu hook. I just couldn't seem to get a good hookset on them for some reason. Was using a M and fast tip baitcaster. I tried waiting for the fish to take it then set. Tried feeling the weight then set and just tried. Hard set when I felt the tick.. no matter what I couldn't get it done. Any help or tips with that? 

[Russ E]

could you see the fish?

the reason I am asking this is, small fish will grab a senko by the tail and take off. Never getting the hook in its mouth. panfish will do the same thing. Generally a larger fish will inhale it.

[Further North]

Tough call without seeing what's happening...Can we assume you are Texas rigging with the EWG hooks?

 

It seems to me that most of the bass that eat my Senkos either eat enough of the bait to make hooking easy...or they self hook when they try to run with the bait.

 

...Should probably ask: You are either leaving the hook tip exposed...are are just barely tucking it into the top of the Senko, correct?

[Ksam1234]

3 minutes ago, Further North said:

Tough call without seeing what's happening...Can we assume you are Texas rigging with the EWG hooks?

 

It seems to me that most of the bass that eat my Senkos either eat enough of the bait to make hooking easy...or they self hook when they try to run with the bait.

 

...Should probably ask: You are either leaving the hook tip exposed...are are just barely tucking it into the top of the Senko, correct?

Correct on all assumptions. It's Texas rigged weightless and I either leave the barn sticking out flush or slightly texpose and tuck it in just a little 

5 minutes ago, Weedwhacker said:

could you see the fish?

the reason I am asking this is, small fish will grab a senko by the tail and take off. Never getting the hook in its mouth. panfish will do the same thing. Generally a larger fish will inhale it.

I could see one of the 5 that took the lure and it was indeed a large mouth. Maybe around 13-14 inches. The others I'm 99.9% sure are bass 

[Further North]

Hmmmm...Tough call.  Could be the small fish deal that Weedwhacker suggested.

[Sword of the Lord]

Small fish like bluegill will nibble on Senkos just like any other plastic stick or worm bait, thus making it feel like a bass tapped it. I've also had bass barely bigger than the Senko try to eat it, but they only get a small portion in their mouth and you lose them. What's interesting about those bass is that they never got hooked, but the reel in with the bait for a few seconds before letting go. If you're using the Senko on a Texas rig with the hook barely tucked back into the bait, I don't think you're doing anything wrong. You probably just didn't get a bass or it was a little guy. More often than not they hook themselves when they run with the bait.

[Ksam1234]

2 minutes ago, Sword of the Lord said:

Small fish like bluegill will nibble on Senkos just like any other plastic stick or worm bait, thus making it feel like a bass tapped it. I've also had bass barely bigger than the Senko try to eat it, but they only get a small portion in their mouth and you lose them. What's interesting about those bass is that they never got hooked, but the reel in with the bait for a few seconds before letting go. If you're using the Senko on a Texas rig with the hook barely tucked back into the bait, I don't think you're doing anything wrong. You probably just didn't get a bass or it was a little guy. More often than not they hook themselves when they run with the bait.

And I have the worst luck in the world ha. But thanks didn't know if I was doing something wrong. I should also point out it was in a real weedy area and only about 4 ft deep.. so maybe they ran for the weeds and lost it that way

[flyfisher]

What type of line are you using?  When i switched to braid for my weightless soft plastics i found that i was getting bit the same amount and my hook up percentage increased.  You do have to watch the line a little more due to the slack line nature of the weightless plastic presentation but that is hardly a bad trade off to me for increased catches.  

[Ksam1234]

1 minute ago, flyfisher said:

What type of line are you using?  When i switched to braid for my weightless soft plastics i found that i was getting bit the same amount and my hook up percentage increased.  You do have to watch the line a little more due to the slack line nature of the weightless plastic presentation but that is hardly a bad trade off to me for increased catches.  

I was using 20# braid power pro.. I like not having the stretch 

[MichaelCopeland]

How are you going about the hook set? I ask because when I use Texas rigged anything I set the hook by dropping my rod tip, reel in slack and sweep hard left or right depending on my stance at the time. 

[Colton Neal]

Try instead of a EWG just an offset straight shank hook which has the point riding higher then the eyelet and that should increase your penetration. 

[WRB]

2 hours ago, Ksam1234 said:

So today I went out and tried using a senko for the first time.. well it sure does get bit but I couldn't get a d**n fish in the boat.. I was using a 5 inch with a 4/0 and 5/0 ewg gamakatsu hook. I just couldn't seem to get a good hookset on them for some reason. Was using a M and fast tip baitcaster. I tried waiting for the fish to take it then set. Tried feeling the weight then set and just tried. Hard set when I felt the tick.. no matter what I couldn't get it done. Any help or tips with that? 

Your  4/0-5/0 EWG hook is too big for a 5" Senko.

So how are you rigging the Senko?

Tom

 

[Catt]

3 hours ago, Colton Neal said:

Try instead of a EWG just an offset straight shank hook which has the point riding higher then the eyelet and that should increase your penetration. 

 

[Ksam1234]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Your  4/0-5/0 EWG hook is too big for a 5" Senko.

So how are you rigging the Senko?

Tom

 

Rly ? I figured the 4/0 goes down just little above half the worm so it would be better for hooksets since more hook can be in the mouth. Help stop short strikes of the worm. But I am Texas rigging it weightless.  Usually hook exposed or when I get into more weeds I will skin hook it so it doesn't get caught up

[Angry John]

Why not run them wacky with a 2/0 hook.  Never miss that way.

[WRB]

57 minutes ago, Ksam1234 said:

Rly ? I figured the 4/0 goes down just little above half the worm so it would be better for hooksets since more hook can be in the mouth. Help stop short strikes of the worm. But I am Texas rigging it weightless.  Usually hook exposed or when I get into more weeds I will skin hook it so it doesn't get caught up

You assume 2 factors that may be causing your problem; 1) LMB bass engulf the entire Senko into it's mouth, they rarely bite the tail end, the usually bite nearly everything by it's head or end moving forward. 2) EWG hooks shape creates a large loop of wire that rolls over flat when the bass engulfs and bites down, the Senko or any soft plastic, the hook doesn't stay upright. When you try to set the hook the bass opens it's mouth and out comes the Senko. 

Look at the soft plastic for teeth marks, it looks like the surface has been sanded with coarse sand paper, where are the teeth marks? Has the Senko been pulled down the hook shank?

Wacky rigging is a higher percentage presentation with Senko's. Weedless hooking a fat worm like a Senko does require a hook that is 2X the worm diameter, 4/0 -5/0 EWG hook is about 3X-4X. I don't like off set hooks especially EWG styles for worms and Senko's for reasons explained. I use Owner #5103 size 3/0 skin hooked through the side in lieu the centerline for 5" & 6" Senko's, weedless hooked, prefer to wacky hook them with #5172 size 2/0 weedless wacky hook and add a 1/16-3/32 oz nose nail weight.

Tom

[moguy1973]

I've always used straight shanks on my Texas rigged stick worms.  But then again, I've never really had them just tap it unless it was a sunfish nibbling on the end.  Bass usually take it and run off with it in my experience. 

 

[Bassin' Brad]

4/0 is the biggest hook I'll use for a 5" senko. 3/0 EWG is a good hook to use. Also I use a MH/F rod. I don't miss many bass with that setup unless I have little fish nipping it. 

[islandbass]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

What size for the 5" senko? Maybe 2/0 or 3/0?

 

I was thinking about trying this type of hook soon with senkos so this subject couldn't have come at a better time.

[Ksam1234]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

You assume 2 factors that may be causing your problem; 1) LMB bass engulf the entire Senko into it's mouth, they rarely bite the tail end, the usually bite nearly everything by it's head or end moving forward. 2) EWG hooks shape creates a large loop of wire that rolls over flat when the bass engulfs and bites down, the Senko or any soft plastic, the hook doesn't stay upright. When you try to set the hook the bass opens it's mouth and out comes the Senko. 

Look at the soft plastic for teeth marks, it looks like the surface has been sanded with coarse sand paper, where are the teeth marks? Has the Senko been pulled down the hook shank?

Wacky rigging is a higher percentage presentation with Senko's. Weedless hooking a fat worm like a Senko does require a hook that is 2X the worm diameter, 4/0 -5/0 EWG hook is about 3X-4X. I don't like off set hooks especially EWG styles for worms and Senko's for reasons explained. I use Owner #5103 size 3/0 skin hooked through the side in lieu the centerline for 5" & 6" Senko's, weedless hooked, prefer to wacky hook them with #5172 size 2/0 weedless wacky hook and add a 1/16-3/32 oz nose nail weight.

Tom

Wow I guess my logic was all wrong, I have some of those owner 3/0 hooks so I'll try those next

time. And I have never tried a wacky rig, this was my first

time ever using a senko or let alone any soft

plartix stick bait type.  So I'll look into the wacky style as well! Thank you

39 minutes ago, Bassin' Brad said:

4/0 is the biggest hook I'll use for a 5" senko. 3/0 EWG is a good hook to use. Also I use a MH/F rod. I don't miss many bass with that setup unless I have little fish nipping it. 

Thank you for the advice! I'll try the 3/0. And you say you use a MH/F rod.. is that a spinning rod or baitcasting? I tried to use my baitcaster that is MH/F but the senko seemes

to light 

[scaleface]

A lot of people use larger EWG's with   success . I like to pick a hook with a gap a little over twice the thickness of the worm . Smaller hooks are generally smaller diameter getting better hook sets  . Also , I may be wrong here  , I think a  hook with a smaller gap keeps the bass hooked better . The plastic helps keep the bass pinned on the smaller hook .

[Bassin' Brad]

Yes I use a baitcaster, BUT I slide a 1/16 oz bullet weight on the line and let it free slide (not pegged). I can cast plenty far with that setup unless we are talking high winds. Everyone has their own opinions on it and thats fine but that's what works for me. Caught my PB last week with that exact setup. 

[Angry John]

I am always the odd man out i use 2/0 ewg hooks when texas rigging.  never had one bend out and always seem to hook up.  The standard IMO is 3/0 but the wire diameter goes up a lot between 2/0 and 3/0 on a standard gauge hook.

[nyuster]

I too have a problem with setting the hook with senkos except for me I end up hooking the fish too late and it ends up almost getting swallowed

[MichaelCopeland]

2 hours ago, Ksam1234 said:

Wow I guess my logic was all wrong, I have some of those owner 3/0 hooks so I'll try those next

time. And I have never tried a wacky rig, this was my first

time ever using a senko or let alone any soft

plartix stick bait type.  So I'll look into the wacky style as well! Thank you

Thank you for the advice! I'll try the 3/0. And you say you use a MH/F rod.. is that a spinning rod or baitcasting? I tried to use my baitcaster that is MH/F but the senko seemes

to light 

I haven't tried any light weight or weightless rigs on my MH/F baitcaster yet, but when I do try them I will treat it like changing any bait/lure on it. Adjust the spool tensioner knob and the braking system(Magnetic Control System) my reel has to accommodate to bait/lure I'm using.